Youth Programs

The BJC Youth Education Program provides a warm, lively, and creative environment in which students develop a solid understanding of Judaism and a positive Jewish identity. Students also acquire the skills and ethics necessary to become responsible and motivated members of Jewish and diverse communities that make up our world. BJC youth education brings vitality to our tradition, while maintaining continuity with our heritage, our people, and our history. 

We welcome all students without regard to gender, race, creed, color, religious background, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or origin. Our membership includes Jews from traditional and liberal religious backgrounds, secular Jews, intermarried couples, and their families. BJC takes a trans-denominational approach to Jewish worship and thought. BJC welcomes students who have not yet enjoyed an organized religious school model as they begin to reach traditional B’nai Mitzvah age.

SCHEDULE

COVID-19 Special On Line Schedule

Saturday CLASSES

• Grades 1—5 from 9:30 - 10:15 AM
• Grades 6—7 from 10:30 – 11:15 AM

Tuesday – Thursday  1:1 HEBREW LESSONS

• Grades 4 –7, individual 20-minute slots scheduled between 5 – 7:40 PM

ONLINE EDUCATION DETAILS

For the 2020 Fall Semester, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BJC youth education programs will continue online. The BJC Board of Trustees, Education Committee, and school faculty will monitor and evaluate the COVID-19 pandemic as we progress through the fall to determine our options for in-person activities for special events and as we get closer to the Spring Semester.

BJC Youth Education programs were successfully held online from March 2020 until the conclusion of our 2019-2020 school year. Our transition was highly successful due, in part, to BJC’s leading role in online mid-week Hebrew education. 

HEBREW

No More Midweek Commute:  One-on-One Hebrew Instruction with our Gifted Teachers!

BJC has the solution to the DC traffic blues and challenges faced by working parents. Our online Midweek Hebrew School is an intensive 20-minute session each week with individual attention from a BJC teacher to help your child progress at his or her own pace. It offers Hebrew reading through an interactive Judaic curriculum. Students learn how to read the Hebrew language, learn the prayers necessary to become B’nai Mitzvah and participate in Jewish worship, and gain a love for Judaism while learning about Jewish tradition.

BJC has been conducting online Hebrew mid-week education since a pilot program during the 2018-2019 school year. BJC transitioned the mid-week Hebrew program to fully online in September of 2019. Note: There are some exceptions for students engaged in B’nai Mitzvah preparations with the Rabbi. Note: During COVID-19 all facets of student instruction remain online.

CURRICULUM

Our experienced staff uses a variety of teaching methods, including social action projects, field trips, art, music, plays, text, crafts, games, and cooking.  

Weekend classes take place in person at BJC as part of our Saturday mornings curriculum.  In addition to reinforcement of the weekday online Hebrew curriculum, students also experience and learn about Jewish holidays, culture, history, dance, and music, with time built into the school day for building community.

Our older students also spend time in discussion with their teachers, focusing on the social justice issues of the day with an emphasis on the underlying principles and tenets of Judaism. Our post-B’nai mitzvah students form our Tichon class, which meets in the evenings with the Rabbi. Those students in the 10th grade form the Confirmation Class. Confirmation is held in conjunction with Shavuot. Working with the Rabbi, the students create the service.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

In addition to Religious School classes, BJC offers a wide array of special events through the year that help children learn about and connect to their Jewish heritage, including:

• High Holiday Family Services
• Kids Kiddush
• Interfaith Thanksgiving Service and Celebration
• Hannukkah Latke Breakfast
• Passover Seder
• Purim Carnival
• Shabbat Under the Stars
• Cultural and service events

B'NAI MITZVAH

At BJC, B’nai mitzvah is a personalized experience that embraces each child and all family members regardless of religious background. Rabbi Schnitzer works closely with each student, preparing him or her for this important milestone in leading a Shabbat service.

FEES

BJC will work with any family if religious school fees present a challenge.

Any new member BJC family is eligible to receive a 25% discount on their first year of school fees.

Standard Fees

• One child:  $1120
• Two children:  $1815
• Three children:  $2405
• Tichon: TBD for 2020-2021 school year

To learn more about the BJC Youth Education/Religious School program, contact, Issie Resti, Education Committee chair, by clicking here.